ABSTRACT
The intention of the user of the tool determines how much creativity is displayed. The pen is a vehicle, a medium, a tool for the written language. A tool, like the computer, is not a language, but a language can become a tool when we become fluent in it. The parallels between writing and coding are powerful: both involve comprehension and generation; both welcome different levels of fluency, from beginners to experts; both involve the use of tools and the use of language; both can fulfill the need for expression and communication. Programming became the manipulation of code, a symbolic text that was part of a writing system. Young children, with their own developmental needs and abilities, need programming languages specifically designed for them. Sean, Suzy, and Cindy all engaged in computational thinking by using different programming environments. They explored powerful ideas of computational thinking and, most importantly, had fun in the process.
